College Football Notebook

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LSU: Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux is not expected to be on the field when
the Tigers open spring practice today. He was suspended last week by coach Les Miles, who would only say the 21 year old had violated team rules.

Perrilloux, widely expected to take over the starting job following Matt Flynn's departure from the National Championship team, missed a man-
datory meeting meant to set the tone for the off season. In fairness to
to Perrilloux, his father died February 7 and he missed some time at school
but has since returned. Stay tuned.........

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ALABAMA: Several players had off season surgery, but most will be available for spring practice.

Rolando McClain (LB) left thumb and wrist fracture. Started as true freshman.
Glen Coffee (RB) right shoulder joint. No spring contact.
Terry Grant (RB) hernia, started first half of season.
Roy Upchurch (RB) tendon tear left thumb.
Demetrius Goode (RB) torn knee ligament.
Jimmy Johns (LB) arthriscopic knee surgery. Will practice during spring.
Milton Talbert (DE) torn labrum, limited spring practice.
Ezekial Knight (LB) undeclosed problem.

Alabama will petition for two players for medical disqualification in the
2008 season. Senior offensive linemen B.J. Stabler (knee) and Cody
Davis (shoulder) as unable to play. Stabler started 18 games.

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INDIANA: Was the 2007 season a one year fluke? With quarterback Kellen
Lewis back, the offense should continue to improve as long as the O-line
with four returning starters gives him time to work. The defense was among
the best in the nation at getting into the backfield, and 270 lb pass rushing
terror Greg Middleton is back along with seven other defensive starters.
Placekicker Austin Starr is one of the best kickers in college football. Also,
for the second straight year, no Ohio State and no Michigan on the
schedule. Could be a team to keep an eye on for the 2008 season.

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PENN STATE: The number one area to work on in spring practice is the
quarterbacks. Everything else is in place with nine starters returning on
offense and nine on defense, but if teams load up against the run, the
offense will be inconsistent. With a fantastic offensive line in place, the
running game will rock if QBs offer the mere hint of a deep ball to keep
safeties deep. The passing game doesn't have to pass for 300 yards a
game, but it has to be more efficient. There will be lot's of attention on
the quarterbacks during spring practice.

[tango papa]

Hey Clover, I've started working my stats for the first couple of weeks and found an early look at returning starters for next season's teams at Phil Steele.Com . Man, will 28 Aug ever get here? He's also got each team's tentative schedules listed by conference and all the coaching changes.

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Thanks for the info Papa. Steele has a pretty good college magazine
that I usually get. Mark Lawrence has one also. Both are loaded with
schedules, trends, etc.............good information for those interested
in college football.

Sounds like a damn commercial.

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BOSTON COLLEGE: After getting to the ACC title game and going 11-3
last season, BC is headed back to being a really solid eight or nine win
program that's unbeatable in December Bowl games. For the first time since
1996, neither QB Ryan nor Tom O'Brian is in Chestnut Hill, begging the question of where the leadership will come from in 2008. The schedule doesn't get difficult until mid-October, so the new quarterback will have
time to get acclimated in September against the likes of Kent State, Rhode
Island and Central Florida.

Senior Chris Crane enters spring as the leading contender at quarterback.
Surprisingly quick at 6-4 and 236 lbs, he has a capable arm and has been
Ryan's understudy the last two seasons. BC should have another good
season during 2008.

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COLORADO: Eight starters return on offense and eight are back on defense,
along with punter Matt DiLallo. That doesn't count a slew of good players
who missed last year for a variety of reasons, and are expected to return.
After two years in the Dan Hawkins era, the program finally appears ready
to turn the corner and be back in the Big 12 title chase again now that the
pieces are in place. Hawkins is a good coach, and now he has his guys where he wants them. The Buffs start out playing Colorado State and
Eastern Washington then travel to Florida State, host West Virginia and
Texas. The team is loaded with experience but face's a difficult schedule.

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UCLA: While there are significant losses on both sides of the ball, this team
is built to win and win this season. Last year's defense was more than fine, but the offense stunk it up after quarterback's Pat Cowan and Ben Olson
couldn't stay healthy. Both are back, there's experience behind them, and
the recruiting class has talented prospects to throw into the mix if there
needed. Most importantly, new offensive coordinator Norm Chow is aboard
and will add much need punch to the offensive attack. Protecting the pass-
er will be a priority in spring practice.

New coach Rick Neuheisel has invigorated the program, and it shows. Keep
an eye on UCLA this season.

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OLE MISS: The road schedule is difficult playing at Wake Forest, Florida,
Alabama, Arkansas and LSU. There's a ton of experience back on both sides
of the ball, but is there a lot of talent compared to the rest of the SEC?
The West is nasty, and it will be hard for Nutt to move the Rebs up in the
standings unless there is a huge improvement in just about every area.
With all the veterans back, many Rebel fans will be hoping for big things,
but they will probably have to wait a while.

Ed Orgeron did a decent job of bringing in some good talent at key spots,
and Houston Nutt will benefit. Greg Hardy will be one of the nations best
pass rushers and Michael Oher is a big time offensive lineman. Great
prospect at quarterback in Jevan Snead a transfer from University of
Texas.

[Ego74]

good stuff Cloverleaf

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KENNY STABLER: A look at former Alabama great quarterback Ken Stabler.
Selected to the All-American team in 1967, "Snake" Stabler played on Tide
teams that compiled a 28-3-2 record. In 1966, he quarterbacked Bama to
a perfect 11-0 season, including a 34-7 win over Nebraska in the Orange
Bowl. Stabler completed 12 of 17 passes for 218 yards and rushed for 40
more while earning MVP honors. His senior season, Stabler was also the
SEC Player of the Year by the Birmingham Quarterback Club and the Atlanta
Touchdown Club. In 1992, he and Joe Namath were selected as quarter-
backs on the Tide's All-Century team. He was a first round selection by
the Houston Astros in baseball, but turned down that offer to play football
with the Oakland Raiders. Snake was a player, on and off the field. He
played hard and partied hard. Outstanding football player.

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FLORIDA: The Gators spent last year retooling and reloading after a national
title winning 2006, and now they come out loaded with eight starters re-
turning on offense, including Tim Tebow, eight on defense, and punter Chas
Henry, who help them finish ninth in the nation, and first in the SEC, in net
punting. Not only that, but they're even better with former Southern Cal RB
Emmanuel Moody ready to roll. The four true road games (Georgia doesn't
count); Tennessee, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Florida State.

Spring practice will be used to improve on pass defense. Last year, the
Gators were the worst in the SEC defending the pass. Also, establishing
a solid running game to take the load off Tebow will be a priority. Look for
the Gators to be good in 2008.

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GEORGIA: The athletic board approved an $800,000 raise for Head football
coach Mark Richt, increasing his annual pay to 2.8 million. Even after the big
raise, Richt is only the fifth-highest paid coach in the Southeastern Con-
ference, behind Alabama's Nick Saban, LSU's Les Miles, Florida's Urban Meyer and Auburn's Tommy Tubberville. The four coaches ahead of Richt
on the salary list each make more than $3 million per year.

Georgia finished 11-2 in 2007 by winning it's final seven games, including
a 41-10 romp over Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia is 72-19 with two
SEC championships in seven years under Richt. The Bulldogs have won 10
or more games in five of the last six years and have finished first or tied
for first in SEC East four times.

Georgia returns 15 starters and is expected to be picked among the top
national championship contenders in the 2008 preseason polls.

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ILLINOIS: The team was one of the biggest surprises of the 2007 season, and now the pressure is on Zook to take the program to yet another level. Every-
one knows he can recruit, he was able to do that at Florida, but is he good
enough game coach to take all that talent and succeed when the expectations
are running high. Everyone's going to be gunning for the Illini this year, and
anything less than a 10 win season might be seen as a major dissappoint-
ment.
During spring practice, Illinois needs to develop a more efficient and con-
sistent passing game. Also, a runningback has to step up to take the place
of departed Rashard Mendenhall who was an outstanding back. The talent
is there and expectations are high, getting the improvement needed to
have another great season rides squarely on Zook and his assistants.

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SOUTH CAROLINA: Steve Spurrier might have been a year premature in
predicting last season that the Gamecocks were ready to compete for an
SEC Championship. This might be the year when you look at mix of returnees
and newcomers on the roster. It should be Spurriers best team.

Spurrier said the quarterback battle is wide open among Stephen Garcia,
Chris Smelly, and Tommy Beecher, but you've got to think Garcia's ability
and versatility makes him the favorite. Had he not gotten into trouble, he
might have played last season.

The Gamecocks need a healthy Jasper Brinkley back at middle linebacker.
They were never the same after he blew out his knee last season. He's
a player this team needs.

Spurrier has been quiet so far........look out for SC this season.

[tango papa]

Clover, in his first 3 years at SC, Spurrier is 6-2 ATS vs Conf teams in Sept (using Don Best closing lines), but only .500 vs non-conf non-BCS schools. Not a Bully. Damn

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STEVE SPURRIER: A look at the ole ball coach. Spurrier was a multi-talented
athlete in high school starring in football, basketball and baseball at Science
Hill high school, in Johnson City, Tennessee. At Florida, he won the Heisman
Trophy with a career 4848 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. In 1967, he
was drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent nine
years SF before playing his last season with Tampa Bay. During his 10 year
he played in 106 games, with 597 completions, 6878 yards and 40 tds.
He was a great college QB but only average success as a pro. His calling
was coaching.

Florida: 6 SEC Championships, 5 time Coach of The Year, won at least 9
games in each of his 12 seasons, averaged 10 wins per season, 1 National-
championship, weekly polls 202 0f 203 weeks.

Duke: Won an ACC Championship in football as head coach. Think about
that, in football.

I am a Bama fan and SEC fan and Spurrier is the best coach in the
conference.

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AIR FORCE: Spring practice began March 4th and will conclude with the
spring game on April 12th. Head coach Troy Calhoun's hiring in 2007 flew
under the radar, but perhaps no first year coach accomplished more in his
first year. The Falcons were plus-five in the win department and almost
won the Armed Forces Bowl over Cal after getting up early. Teams will have
had all year to study the complexities inherent within the Air Force offense,
so Calhoun and company won't be sneaking up on anyone this fall.

Four year starting quarterback Chad Hall will graduate, so it's imperative
that the Falcons find a QB to replace him. Also, only three starters return
on offense and five on defense. There are some huge holes to fill during
spring and fall practice. Air Force has it's work cut out for them to have
another successful season.

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OREGON: The Ducks got a sneak preview of life without Dennis Dixon (QB),
and it wasn't pretty. The offense was suspect after he went down last
November until Justin Roper delivered a nice, four touchdown effort in the
Sun Bowl ambush of South Florida. While Roper certainly helped his cause
in El Paso, it should be noted that fellow sophomore Nate Costa was higher
on the depth chart before tearing his left knee up in October. Healthy
again, he's ready to compete for the starting job. Also in the hunt, are
sophomore Cody Kempt and Cade Cooper, a transfer from BYU and former
Junior College Player of the Year. The quarterback battle should be some-
thing to watch during spring practice.

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HEISMAN TROPHY: Everyone has heard of the Heisman Trophy which is
awarded to the best football player in college football each year. The
Trophy is probably the premier individual award in college sports. But, not
everyone knows much about the man the award was named for: John
Heisman (1869-1936).

* Played football at Brown and at Penn from 1887-1991.
*Coached at numerous colleges including: Auburn, Georgia Tech, Clemson,
and others.
* Turned Georgia Tech into a powerhouse with a 100-29-6 record over
16 seasons. In 1916, his Georgia Tech team beat Cumberland 220-0.
That remains the highest scoring game in college football history.
* Football innovator. Football would not be the game we know without
John Heisman. He is considered the first to have the center toss the ball
back to the quarterback, rather than rolling it. He was the first coach to
have both guards pull to lead on an end run. He advocated legalizing
the forward pass and dividing the game into quarters.
* A founder and president of the American Football Coaches Association.

Great award for a great contributer for college football.

[tango papa]

Hey Clover, did you know that Dike Beede of Youngstown (College, then University, now State and Ron Jaworski's HC) invented the penalty flag?